Mirrorless Camera & New Full Frame Coming Second Half 2012? [CR2]

[D_Rochat]

Putting the term "entry level" aside, I think it's going to be a high MP body. I believe it will be almost a stripped down version of the 5D III for studio/landscape. Higher mp, improved metering, basic AF system, basic weather sealing, 3-4fps blah blah blah. I just don't think the term "entry level" belongs in the xD line. It would simply be another body with a specific use. This also continues to convince me that the 7D is being pushed to the xxD line. I know it's not a popular opinion with some, but it makes sense to me. Nothing wrong with a weather sealed 7D rebadged as a 70D.....

EDIT - I don't know why, but a release price of $2800 sticks in my head.

[Ricku]

I believe it will be almost a stripped down version of the 5D III for studio/landscape.

Well, then it will be very important that the camera can produce a wide amount of DR. Preferably as good as the D800 DR.

I dont think Canon has the tech for this right now.

[ruuneos]

Maybe 5DX with 30-50 megapixels for compete against Nikon's D800.

[Fandongo]

There is no room for a 2000$ FF: the 5dmk2 is already at this place.
Canon won't spend money (research, production lines, testing, advertizing...) and time to replace an award-winning, best-selling product such as the 5dmk2.

Next annoucements will be april and september, for june and november availabilities. Seems like a nice roadmap to me (Canon mirrorless for christmas, yay  ). This will already be 4 major photography products (1D X, 5D3, 4K and mirrorless) in a single year.

I'm hoping for a mass megapixel FF and a sport-oriented APS-C (7D2 ?) announcements during Q1 2013.

People are reluctant to buy a 3.5 year old camera.

Testing??  Thanks to the internet, they have a willing supply of worthy testers... for free.
Research?  They already developed the digic 5+/sensors/etc., it's just a question of price point.

Canon advertises stupidly...  Didn't see t2i adverts until the t3i was out.
Speaking of stupidity, remember the 7d, t2i, t3i, and 60d?

Clearly they have no problem with redundancy... hell, they flaunt it.

An entry level FF $2k (+/- a few hundred) DSLR will sell.

[kalmiya]

A darn... I was finally thinking to go for the 5D II (entry level FF ^^) and now and rumor of a new entry level full-frame... darn - couldn't you have waited a month with that rumor ?

[V8Beast]

If an entry-level FF camera pans out, it would certainly explain why Canon priced the 5DIII at $3,500. It would make for a great backup body as well for those using a 5DIII as a primary body. Maybe this will be the mega-resolution FF body people are waiting for. It would make a lot of sense to pack it full of MP, regardless of whether or not it improves or degrades IQ, since it would have to lure those accustomed to getting 18 mp Rebel for $500.

[LetTheRightLensIn]

If I had to wager, a 5D3 minus the AF, frame rate and build quality. $1999 anyone?

The question would be why people should buy that instead of a second-hand 5D2.

I have a feeling that there is something missing from the story.

Yeah, I don't see the point. Well granted Canon makes nothing from second hand sales, but why not just continue the 5D2 then? (I guess because they don't want to have to keep making the old sensor and old digics)

I would try to go for a 32MP cam, with 2x2 C300-type sampled true 1920x1080 res video in a crop mode, same AF, same 6fps, same everything the 5D3 has, priced $3500 and drop 5D3 to $3000. Although there are issues with that as well at this point, that might kill 5D3 sales unless they dropped it too low in price and it's probably just not in the cards this time. Probably talking 5D4 (i bet it arrives in 2 years instead of 3.5 years).

[Stephen Melvin]

Hrm. How 'bout this?

5D Mk II build
7D autofocus unit
SD card only
36mp

With the same DiGIC chip in it, that puts it at 3.6 fps. The build quality is a big part of the expense of the Mk III, and the SD card makes it more "entry level."

[stabmasterasron]

Entry level FF?  Maybe T4i?  As someone else suggested, mirrorless will start to eat out the bottom end of the dslr market.  So going upscale is the only place left for dslrs.  No mirrorless system has a large sensor, yet. 

It would be killer to see the 18mpix sensor from 1Dx in a T4i.  Digic 5, 4fps (12 raw depth), ISO 6400, nice video functions.  $1500 with kit lens.

The only question is are there enough Rebel buyers that are sophisticated enough to know the advantages that would be there for this kind of system.  My guess is no.  They look at the specs of this camera, see that it isn't a significant "number jump" from the T3i and see the extra cost - then jump ship to some mirrorless system.

So, do you make it the 70D?

[Aglet]

I think they've definitely left the door open for another FF body to replace the 5D2.  And it'll have to be different enough to be compelling.

Give it a price tag around $2500-2700,
single Digic 5,
3 to 4 fps at full res of...
7680x5120. (39.3MP)
kitted with new, lower cost 24-105 IS zoom they patented last year.

Take some nice features off the 7D/5D3 but hobble it with another low-end AF system, maybe as good as the 7D's at best.  Will make a great studio cam and will be able to do basic HD video with good IQ.  Maybe 720p at 60fps.

Could work as a landscaper IF they can get past the pattern noise and bump the Dynamic Range up to better than the 5D3 - good luck with that if they stick with the tech they're using now. 

It'll be a below-the-belt blow to the D800 and maybe help satiate those of us heavily into Canon gear and thinking of moving over to the camera with the little red slash on its handgrip.

I'll be watching for it, patient and hopeful but with a pessimistic attitude born of continual disappointment.

[Rocky]

5D III sensor (to minimize developement and production cost)
40D sensor ( keep the cost low, good enough is good enough)
60D built (keep the cost low)
Micro adjustable AF ( make the most out of fast lens)
That may get us a sub $2000 FF.

[Trev]

I am a bit of a dinosaur and still shoot film.  I would jump at an entry level full frame digital rather than the 5D mk 2 and the reason is simple.  CF cards are coming to the end of their run.  My local pro photo shop only stocks the very best CF cards and they are priced very steeply as it is an old technology consumers are moving away from.   I am confident the camera would last me years, I am not confident about finding reasonably priced CF cards 4 years from now.

[Terry Rogers]

I think I'll jump in with my two cents.

My entry lvl full frame would be...

5dmkii sensor (to cut costs as I'm sure they have decreased manufacturing costs over the years and it's still a wonderful sensor). Alternatively, 1dx or 5d3 sensor, which ever is less expensive to manufacture. Though I think the lower MP 1dx sensor would be more forgiving to cheap lenses.
Rebel quality body with an articulating screen.
Rebel quality AF system
3-4 fps
~96% view finder
EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens; or a new, inexpensive 28 - 85ish mm f3.5 - 5.6 IS lens with silent autofocus
Digic V
Single SD slot
Small rebel level image buffer
pop up flash (with speedlight control)

If all that could be priced for $1600 (or $1250 body only), I suspect consumers would be blown away by the image quality and low light ability as compared to current rebels.

In my opinion, such a camera would place the full frame digital world into the hands of the masses. I have no doubt Best Buy sales people could be instructed to sell all the advantages full frame offers over a crop sensor.

[yuuko]

A true replacement for the 5D MK 2?  I thought the the 5D MK 3 was the replacement for the 5D MK 2.

[CrimsonBlue]

CF cards are coming to the end of their run.  My local pro photo shop only stocks the very best CF cards and they are priced very steeply as it is an old technology consumers are moving away from.   I am confident the camera would last me years, I am not confident about finding reasonably priced CF cards 4 years from now.

I'm not sure that I agree with the idea that CF cards are slowly being phased out.  They are still faster than SD cards by a good margin and they are a staple component with most photographers. 

Maybe in 4-5 years SD will have improved even more, but I think we'll see other technologies jump into the space (cue D800 specs) before seeing the end of CF.